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LANTERN FESTIVAL PARADE IN SOUTHERN BROOKLYN

BAY RIDGE — THE BROOKLYN LANTERN FESTIVAL PARADE IS SET TO TAKE PLACE this weekend, organized by City Councilmember Susan Zhuang, with performers marching through the streets of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park for the Chinese Lantern Festival, which takes place on the first full moon after the start of the Lunar New Year and marks the end of the holiday period. Dancers, singers and more will celebrate Chinese culture beginning at noon on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the corner of 7th Avenue and 61st Street; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefffries and Borough President Antonio Reynoso will both be honored at the event.

“Bringing people together to create wonderful memories and experiences while honoring traditions is a win-win for our community,” Zhuang wrote in a press release.

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COMMUNITY BOARD 7 VOTES FOR 3RD AVE SAFETY PLAN

SUNSET PARK — COMMUNITY BOARD SEVEN VOTED IN FAVOR OF A DOT TRAFFIC-CALMING plan for southern Third Avenue by a 31-1 margin on Wednesday night, reports Streetsblog; the proposed “road diet” would cut the busy street between 29th and 54th streets from three lanes in each direction to two and add bike paths, protected parking lanes and pedestrian islands. Traffic deaths on Third Avenue have spiked in recent years, due in part to BQE drivers opting to instead take the surface street, which runs under the elevated highway; 14 people have died there since 2016, prompting residents and board members alike to agitate for DOT fixes.

A DOT spokesman said in a statement that the agency would conduct a traffic analysis before settling the details of the road diet proposal; CB7 plans to draft a letter to the DOT in support of the plan.

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GETS 10 YEARS FOR TRAFFICKING GUNS, DRUGS AROUND PROSPECT PARK SOUTH

DOWNTOWN — A ‘CAREER CRIMINAL’ WHO SOLD 17 GUNS around Prospect Park South, including semi-automatic assault-style rifles, was sentenced Friday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to ten years in prison. U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall sentenced Ronald Delaespada for his role in the firearms trafficking scheme and for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. Delaespada’s co-defendant and brother Owen Welch pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking charges in July 2023 and is currently awaiting sentencing.

“Delaespada is a career criminal who sold illegal guns, including an assault-type rifle, near a school, a church and on bustling streets in the heart of Brooklyn, without regard for how these lethal weapons could be used,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s sentence will keep the defendant off the street for years, a punishment he deserves for his blatant disrespect for the law and his dangerous conduct.”

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NYPD RELEASES IDENTITY OF JEEP PASSENGER
WHO SUCCUMBED TO COLLISION INJURIES 

CLINTON HILL — POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF AN 88-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO DIED earlier this month from injuries sustained during a tractor collision in November. NYPD reports that just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, police responded to a 911 call for a vehicle collision at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Clinton Avenue, in Clinton Hill, and within the 88th Precinct. According to the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad, a 2022 International Tractor traveling westbound on Atlantic Avenue was stopped for a steady red traffic signal at Clinton Ave. when it was struck from behind by a 2017 Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler’s front seat passenger, since identified as Vashti J. Turner of Sterling Place in Crown Heights, sustained internal trauma and was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in stable condition. She was later transferred to another facility but died of her injuries on Feb. 9.

At the time of the collision, the Jeep Wrangler’s driver, a 59-year-old woman, had remained at the scene, as did the 25-year-old male driver of the International Tractor.

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STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS RALLY
IN SUPPORT OF CONGESTION PRICING

GOWANUS — CONGESTION PRICING HAS ITS ALLIES in State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, who on Friday, Feb. 23, rallied with advocates at the Smith-9th St subway station in Gowanus. The elected officials rallied in support of congestion pricing, which they say will provide funding for critically needed ADA accessibility upgrades at stations across the city. The group also urged for a quick resolution to lawsuits being brought by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and others against congestion pricing, noting that a delay in congestion pricing’s implementation would also delay elevator installations and other accessibility upgrades.

Congestion pricing is currently in the public comment period, which ends on Monday, March 11. The MTA will be reviewing all comments equally regardless of how they are submitted: online; via email to [email protected]; via USPS to CBD Tolling Program, 2 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10004; via phone to 646-252-7440; or fax to (212) 504-3148, with Attention to CBDTP Team.

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DISABILITY GROUPS SUE TLC OVER LACK OF ACCESSIBLE CABS

CITYWIDE — A COALITION OF DISABILITY GROUPS filed a motion in federal court on Wednesday to compel the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission to comply with a 2014 settlement requiring that at least 50% of yellow taxis (both authorized and active medallions) be wheelchair accessible by 2020. Despite an extension, TLC “has not only failed to reach the 50% accessibility threshold but are seeking to escape their obligation altogether,” according to a coalition statement. Currently, 32% of authorized medallion cabs and 42% of active cabs are accessible. The shortfall affects wheelchair users’ employment, health and ability to travel at night, the filing said.

“When we settled with the City, Federal Judge George Daniels called our agreement ‘one of the most significant acts of inclusion in this city since Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers,’ yet now Mayor Adams and the TLC propose rolling back this landmark achievement,” said Joe Rappaport, Executive Director of Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled and member of Taxis For All.

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FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES OFFERED
THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY HOSPITALS

CITYWIDE — FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS SEASON FOR LOWER-INCOME NEW YORKERS AT THE CITY’S PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, thanks to a partnership between the mayor and several organizations. Mayor Adams announced on Friday, Feb. 23 that he, along with NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Grow Brooklyn and other groups will offer free in-person and virtual tax preparation to New Yorkers who earn $85,000 or less annually and file as a family, or those who earn $59,000 or less annually and file as an individual or couple without dependents. Brooklyn in-person sites include MetroPlusHealth – Brooklyn, 2221 Church Avenue in Flatbush; NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Broadway, 815 Broadway in Bushwick (zip 11206); for either of these, call (347) 682-5606. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York, at 2094 Pitkin Avenue, 1st Floor, P31, Brooklyn, NY 11207 is also offering the service; call (718) 784-0877.

Being able to secure and keep one’s refund and/or child tax credit is a vital component of this free tax prep service.

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RESIDENTS: NYC NEEDS TO DEAL WITH ISSUES AT HUGE SHELTER NEAR BROOKLYN NAVY YARD

NAVY YARD/CLINTON HILL — RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY NYC IS NOT DOING ENOUGH to deal with the logistical and humanitarian issues created by a massive migrant shelter on Hall Street in Clinton Hill, near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The shelter is already housing 3,000 with more to come, THE CITY reports. Health + Hospitals recently told CB2 that the complex has the capacity for as many as 6,000 people, while a warehouse across the street could house hundreds more. Local schools are trying to manage, feed and clothe a surge of new students — many of whom have received their 60-day notice and have no idea where they will be next.

Councilmember Crystal Hudson has heard concerns about trash and late-night disturbances, and said there’s been a surge in the homeless under the nearby BQE, made up of evicted shelter residents.

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL JOINS BROOKLYN’S ASIAN
COMMUNITY FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR BANQUET

BATH BEACH — THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS BROUGHT TOGETHER Assemblymember William Colton (D-47), Governor Kathy Hochul, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and other elected officials at the Fortune Palace Restaurant in Bath Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 21. They joined Asian-American community leaders for a traditional Chinese banquet and a performance by dancers from the Korean Service Center. The group also celebrated the passage of a law that Assemblyman Colton had introduced that declared the first day of the Lunar New Year as a school holiday across New York State. Assemblymember Grace Lee was that successful legislation’s first co-sponsor. Also present was City Councilmember Susan Zhuang, who has made history as the first Chinese American Councilmember from Brooklyn. As Assemblyman Colton’s previous chief of staff, Zhuang also pushed hard for the legislation.

“It was really gratifying that the event was held in my district, which is home to so many members of New York’s AAPI community,” said Assemblymember Colton.

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BILL WOULD INCREASE LAGGING FUNDS FOR KIDS’ SUMMER MEALS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — REP. DAN GOLDMAN (NY-10) JOINED REP. YVETTE CLARKE (NY-09) and Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) in introducing the ‘Summer Nutrition Parity Act’ which would increase the funds going to local meal providers to feed children during the summer. The national School Lunch Program provides 40 cents worth of USDA products per meal, but the Summer Food Service Program only provides 1.5 cents worth of products. This is due to the fact that summer program rates have not been adjusted for inflation in decades, the officials said in a statement Friday.

“Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation, nor does inflation take a summer hiatus,” said Goldman —  father of five and a founding member of the Congressional Dads Caucus.

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NO BULL! PRO BULL RIDING COMING TO BROOKLYN; ‘MAVERICKS’ TO BE BASED AT BARCLAYS CENTER

DOWNTOWN — A PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING TEAM, THE NEW YORK MAVERICKS, is coming to Brooklyn, with Barclays Center as its home base, Avenue Sports Fund announced Friday. The inaugural “homestand” event is scheduled for August 9-10, and will be the first time the Brooklyn arena will host a bull riding event in its almost 12-year history. The Mavericks will be part of the Professional Bull Riders league, and its roster will begin to take shape when up to six riders are selected in the 2024 Expansion Draft, scheduled for April in New York City, followed by drafts for new riders and free agents.

“Barclays Center is a world-class venue, and our goal is to build a championship bull riding team in the heart of Brooklyn to represent the entire state of New York,” said Marc Lasry, Avenue Capital’s Chairman, CEO and leader of Avenue Sports Fund.